Saturday: Recipe day!

Hello, happy Saturday to you!  I hope your weekend is off to a great start so far!  On Saturdays, I'm going to focus on a recipe for y'all to enjoy.  Since doing the 21 Day Fix, I have changed my eating habits and have learned to enjoy some new foods along the way.  Before the fix, I wasn't a big vegetable eater.  Like, I maybe ate veggies once/day.  Now, I eat them three or four times/day.  The one recipe Chad and I both really like is a veggie mix from the 21 Day Fix cookbook.  It's super simple and super great for you too!  Here ya go:

Ingredients:
*1 tsp. olive oil
* 1/4 c of chopped asparagus spears  {I used green beans instead because we had those on hand}
* 1/4 c of chopped red bell peppers
* 1/4 c of chopped carrots
* 1/4 c of chopped onions
* 1/2 t. Mrs. Dash Fiesta Lime Seasoning....yummo!

Directions:
Heat oil in medium skillet over medium heat, combine asparagus or green beans, pepper, carrots, onions, and seasoning.  Cook vegetables in skillet, mixing frequently for 2 to 3 minutes or until crisp tender.  

{This serves 1 and is 1 green container on the Fix.}

Lavender Essential Oil Uses

I'm somewhat new to using Essential Oils, but I can say that when I use them, I am impressed with the results.  Lavender is very versatile and I think the most user friendly for newbie oil users.  How can you use lavender?  I'm glad you asked - 

* Insomnia -  Lavender is VERY calming, so I will diffuse it 99% of the time in our diffuser at home.  You can also apply to the bottom of feet to help with insomnia. 

* Fabric Softener - Place a few drops on a wet rag and put in your dryer.

* Cuts - Place some drops of the oil on a cut and it will cleanse and disinfect.

* Bug bites {Hello summer!} - Place the oil right on the bite to reduce swelling.

* Sunburn {Hello summer as well!} - This will soothe the burn and take away discomfort.

* To relax - Smelling some lavender oil will help relax and calm you.  A lot of times I will hold the bottle right up to my nose and breathe - true story!

To get your essential oils and save 10%, click here and enter "Mel" in the code box.

How far can $1.25 go?

My kiddos have been at a Vacation Bible School at a local church this week.  It's been awesome to come in a little early to pick them up and see them worshipping Jesus.  They always end with a time of worship and prayer.  They also have been collecting money for children in India who don't have clean drinking water.  I was shocked to learn that $1.25 will give a child in India clean water for ONE YEAR.  I thought it would be a week, maybe a month, but a WHOLE YEAR.  ONE DOLLAR and TWENTY FIVE CENTS.  The same amount I spent on the one child's at the Dollar Tree yesterday.  One dollar for a cheap, crappy, junky toy they don't need.  REALLY.  Or, one dollar to make a child's life in India better for a YEAR.  It's a no brainer to me, folks.  Next time my kids want to go to the Dollar Tree, we are putting that money in a jar to see how many kids we can give clean water to in India instead.  Or, every time I want a latte, I will put four dollars in and support four children for a year.  Lets' see, one drink for me that will be gone in 30 minutes or less, or giving a child clean water for a year.  That's what I call a great ROI, friends.  Who else will join us?

Curbing That Sweet Tooth?!

Anyone who knows me well knows I have a MASSIVE sweet tooth.  Oh boy.  Like I could eat a whole bag of Sweedish Fish in one sitting; I couldn't eat just one little mini candy bar; I could eat 1/2 gallon of ice cream solo {Eek, I'm embarrassed to admit that!}  So, you get the pic ~ MAJOR sweet tooth here.  Not good, friends.  Not good.  Especially for someone who wants to be a good role model that walks the walk and talks the talk to her kiddos.  {It really wasn't fair for me to tell them they couldn't have candy, then sneak into the laundry room and eat some, was it?  Really?  Yup, I was that mom.}

So, I signed up for a program in February called the 21 Day Fix and it was AWESOME.  Life changing.  It made me realize just how much sugar I actually ate and all the junk I put into my body.  The program happened to come with a super food drink called Shakeology that I was supposed to include with the program.  Of course, I chose chocolate!  HELLO.  I do have a MONSTER sweet tooth, after all.  After a few days, I was hooked.  I noticed my sweet tooth cravings were diminished.  I felt better.  I had more energy.  I was probably nicer to be around?  {Ask my husband and kids about that one.}  My current fave is Salted Caramel Chocolate.  Delish.  And, it's pretty too!  See?

How Do You Treat Yourself?

So, what are you doing to make sure your stomach isn't a waste basket today?

Decide. Commit. Succeed.

In February, I joined an online challenge group called the 21 Day Fix.  This group was focused on better eating, portion control, and exercise.  Each day, I pushed play on the DVD player and was greeted by the company logo as well as a scrolling text that says "Decide.  Commit.  Succeed."  It didn't hit me that it said that until a few weeks ago.  {Yes, I'm still exercising daily and see the same text daily.}  I've been thinking about that a lot lately.  The more I think about it, the more I like it.  It's true - think about it.  What happens when you decide to do something?  You make a decision in your MIND to do it.  If you change your mind, what happens?  You don't follow through.  What happens if you stick with your decision?  You commit.  When you commit, what happens?  You see results.  You succeed.  It's a very simple concept, yet it's life changing.

What if we approached everything in life this way?  What if we made a decision to get married, we committed to our marriage ~ went on consistent date nights, marriage retreats, invested in the relationship ~ and then we succeeded?  What if we made a decision to raise our children, we committed to it and did what we needed to do {digging in, connecting and getting needed resources} and then succeed as parents?  What if we did this for ourselves?  What if we decided to be the best we can be?  What if we committed to that and did the hard work it takes to see results?  Then, we would succeed.

What would we be life if we were successful because we made decisions and committed to them?  How would we feel?  How would we think?  What would we be like if we decided and committed to success?  I think we could be a powerful force in the world and make a HUGE impact in our world.  I encourage you to make a decision today, commit to it and then succeed.  You can do it!  I believe in YOU!

I love this quote!

So what are you doing today to change YOUR thoughts?